TM 1-1500-204-23-1 11-21.  Restraint Equipment.  Restraint equipment, as used  in  this  section,  includes  safety  lap  belts,  shoulder harnesses,   and   other   fabric   devices   used   in   Army aircraft    for    personnel    restraint    purposes.        Restraint equipment is to be installed as directed in the applicable maintenance manual.  On all pilot/copilot and crewman seat belts, the safety belt release handle should point to the left. NOTE Seat   belts   will   not   be   replaced   for cosmetic reasons. a. Inspection.  All personnel restraint equipment is to  be  visually  inspected  at  time  of  installation  and  at specified intervals thereafter.  Inspections are explained in the following paragraphs. · New  Restraint  Equipment.  Perform daily    inspection    for    new    seat    belt latches (MS3488(AS)) also Inspect for fingertip access. · New          Assemblies          of     Restraint Equipment   This   equipment   requires no inspection during depot storage. · Seat belt latch (MS3488(AS)). Inspect for fingertip clearance. Inspect each seat belt latch by using a steel  scale  to  measure  the  clearance distance  between  the  inside  face  of the  top  of  the  grip  and  the  top  of  the webbing, as shown In figure 11-6. WARNING Except  for  leg  garters  used  with  the MK-5D    ejection    seat,    all    restraint assemblies  made  of  cotton  webbing shall  be  removed  from  service.    Use extreme    caution    when    inspecting restraint  equipment  on  ejection  seat equipped aircraft. Ensure appropriate safety pins are installed. Injury   to   personnel   may   otherwise result. Figure 11-6.  Measuring Fingertip Clearance (1) Installation    inspection.        Visually    inspect    all restraint   equipment   prior   to   installation.      Seat   belt latches   shall   be   inspected   for   fingertip   clearance   in accordance with the following procedures. (a)    Inspect  each  seat  belt  latch  by  using  a steel  scale  to  measure  the  clearance  distance  between the inside face of the top of the grip and the top of the wedding, as shown in figure 11-6 (b)    If   the   distance   measured   above   is   less than the thickness of gloved fingers (minimum 0.8 inch) alter latch using the following procedures: 1 Open  latch  so  that  sides  may  be placed    in    vise    equipped    with    aluminum    or    brass protective plates on jaws. 2 Squeeze    sides    of    latch    handle together  using  constant,  even  vise  pressure  until  jaws are approximately 1 3/4 inches apart.  Latch will deform upward and inward, as shown in figure 11-12. 3 Repeat   as   necessary   to   obtain 7/8-inch   clearance   dimension   due   to   spring   back   of metal. 4 Perform visual inspection for cracks. 5 Check    operation    of    latch    and detent for complete lock and release. 11-20